By Kimberly Willis Green
The Honorable Dr. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon, mayor of the city of Riverdale, encouraged Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (CSKYWLA) students to further their education and “take advantage of every opportunity” during her keynote address during the 8th Annual Shirley Clarke Franklin Lecture Series in Celebration of Women’s History held March 6.
Riverdale Mayor Dr. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon shared her personal success story with more than 400 students from the Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy and guests. The event included a question-and-answer session with students. Photo Credit: Scott C. King, Atlanta Public Schools
The theme for the event was “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives” and Mayor Dixon’s remarks were followed by a question-and-answer session with students. Past keynote speakers include Dr. Beverly Tatum, president, Spelman College; Elizabeth Omilami, actor and executive director of Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless; and Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, chief of staff for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Shirley Clarke Franklin Lecture Series honors the former Mayor of Atlanta. Atlanta Public Schools and the Georgia Coalition of Black Women, Inc. (GCBW) created the event to provide a forum for CSKYWLA students to celebrate National Women’s History Month, which is celebrated in March. Through this partnership with GCBW, CSKYWLA students are invited to present the Women’s History Month Proclamation by President Barack Obama during their annual awards luncheon. The GCBW Women’s History Month luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Mar. 13 at The Carter Center.
(From L-R second row) Atlanta Board of Education members Cynthia Briscoe Brown, (At-Large Seat 8, Districts 3 & 4); Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy Middle School Principal Dr. Dione Simon; Atlanta Board of Education Member Leslie Grant, (District 1); Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen; Atlanta Board of Education Member Steven Lee (District 5); Atlanta Board of Education Vice-Chair Nancy M. Meister (District 4); Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy High School Interim Principal Dr. Shaundra Fears; Georgia Coalition of Black Women Board Member Erika McKay. (First row) Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy students and Shirley Clarke Franklin Lecture Series keynote speaker, City of Riverdale Mayor Dr. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon (center). Photo Credit: Scott Clark King, Atlanta Public Schools
About Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 50,000 students across 106 learning sites. The district is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 87 schools, 17 charter schools and two citywide single-gender academies, where students are offered rigorous instructional programs that foster success in school and life. For more information, visit www.atlantapublicschools.us
